교회의 사도성 회복과 선교적 적용

The Restoration of the Apostolicity in the Church and its Missionary Application

It is time to reexamine the true identity of Church and renew the Korean Church according to it. It is thus of great significance to examine the theological and biblical meanings of “the apostolicity of Church”, one of the four attributes of Nicea−Constantinopolis Creed (unity, catholicity, holiness, and apostolicity) and restore the true apostolicity of the Church. For that purpose, this paper proposes to address the historical and theological ideas of the apostolicity of the Church in order to present the holistic understanding of the apostolicity under the biblical guidance on the one hand and suggest its missiological application on the other. First, the Roman Catholic Church saw the priest group centering on the Pope as the successors of the apostles while disregarding the apostles' teachings in general. As a result, they stuck to the ecclesiastical hierarchy, which, in turn, caused the inner corruption and let the pagan customs come into the Church. Second, the Protestant Church had various opinions towards the apostolicity. John Calvin did not address the “four attributes” of the Church, but mentioned the succession of the apostolicity based on Ephesians 4:11. He saw pastors and teachers as normal positions, whereas apostles, prophets, and evangelists are the positions that God calls whenever the occasions need. Charles Van Engen tried to unify the marks of the Reformed Church with the four attributes of the Nicean Creed. He said that the marks are the sign of restoring the inner identity of the Church while the Necea−Constantinopolis Creeds represent the outer look of the church. As a result, he argued, the Church should focus on mission. Charismatics and New Apostolic adherents do not see the apostolicity as a collective one, but as an individual one. This paper tries to understand the apostolicity holistically as it has appeared at the various stages of theological history and apply its concept missiologically. 1) the apostolicity of the Church lies in the true proclamation of the Words and the succession of such a ministry. 2) the apostolicity of the Church is in its dedication to evangelical mission towards all the nations and tribes (Mt 28:19−20; Mk 16:15). 3) the apostolicity of the Church exists in the holistic personality representing Christ (John 20:21). 4) the apostolicity of the Church has the holistic characteristics that succeed the ministry of Christ. 5) the apostolicity of the Church includes the restoration of the apostolic abilities. This is characteristic of the ministry of Jesus Christ and the essential mandates given to the apostles and the saints (Mt 10:1, Mk 16:15−18, Acts 1:8). When the Korean Church restores its apostolicity, we will see the dynamic vitality in all the pastoral fields and missionary sites.